Wales Success Built on Team Effort Rather Than Bale Individualism

The term ‘one-man team’ is commonly batted about in footballing circles, with fans referring to certain sides as such whenever a sole performer enjoys a hugely impressive season and can, at times, be seen as carrying the team. A number of international teams fall into that category, particularly at Euro 2016, with Wales not exempt from the ruling for some. 

“It’s never a one-man team,” Gareth Bale said of the Dragons before the tournament got underway. Bale, to put it simply, is the poster boy of Welsh football. Football’s most expensive player and arguably the national team’s most important, the 26-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong at Euro 2016 so far. The tournament’s joint-top scorer with three goals, Bale played a vital role in Wales’ progression to the next round of the competition as Group B winners. 

As the stand out star for Chris Coleman’s team, it’s hardly a shock that Wales are routinely dubbed a one-man team, yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, Bale is the key man in the side. He scored seven of their 11 goals in qualifying to secure a place in France and has bagged 50% of their goals at the European Championships. A WhoScored rating of 8.78 is the best of all players at the competition, while he is the only player to win the man of the match award in all three group matches. 

While this perhaps adds further weight to the suggestion that Wales are wholly reliant on Bale’s influence, the fact of the matter is Coleman utilises a system that allows the Real Madrid star to maximise his attacking qualities. With a solid core of players in both defence and midfield, Bale is allowed the license to roam freely in the final third. Indeed, this contributed significantly to Wales’ successful progression to the next round of Euro 2016. 

Here Bale is not necessarily excused of his defensive responsibilities, but with the Dragons adopting a compact style of play, they have enough men behind the ball in order to release the star man. It’s a system not too dissimilar to Leicester City in their Premier League title winning campaign, in that Wales soak up pressure before hoping to hit teams on the counter-attack, noted in that they have the sixth lowest possession share (44.6%) at the tournament so far, unleashing Bale as a result. 

It’s little shock, therefore, that Bale is averaging more successful dribbles per game (4.3) than any other player at Euro 2016. With the defence and midfield solid and space opening up as the minutes tick by, Bale is an effective outlet for Wales in the final third as he drives the team forward to help alleviate pressure on the backline. 

Yet it’s this defensive resilience that allows for Bale to exert his offensive qualities. The centre-back relationship of Premier League trio James Chester, Ashley Williams and Ben Davies - not to mention the protection from wide from Chris Gunter and Neil Taylor - means starting goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has an efficient quintet to keep things solid at the back. Of course, with the defence sitting deeper, more pressure is put on the Wales goal, with an average of 15 shots conceded per game one of the higher returns at the competition. 

This, though, is to be expected given Wales are willing to allow opponents to have possession. What’s notable, though, is that of the 45 shots Wales have afforded their opponents, only 22 have come in the penalty box, meaning a majority of the efforts conceded are largely pot shots from distance as a result of the opposition struggling to break down the resilient backline. The players are evidently willing to put their bodies on the line in order to preserve any lead they may have, with the Dragons blocking 15 shots at Euro 2016 so far, a return bettered only by Slovakia (20) and Northern Ireland (16). 

Furthermore, they rank top for interceptions per game (20.7) so far, with key defenders Chester (4.3) and Davies (4) ranking second and third respectively of all players. Their impressive reading of the game means Wales can spring swift counter attacks, with Bale capable of running onto hopeful balls upfield to either maximise his speed or his aerial ability (11 aerial duels won is more than any other Wales player). While it was a tact that didn't pay off in the 2-1 defeat with England, Bale’s impact in the final third means the defence and midfield’s work does not go to waste as Wales go in the hunt for success in their debut European Championship. 

Wales are indeed fortunate enough to be able call on a player of Bale’s ilk in France. He has had more shots on target (12) than 16 of the 24 teams at Euro 2016, further identifying his influence in Coleman’s side. However, to suggest the Dragons are merely a one-man team is wayward. Yes, Bale is crucial for Wales, but Coleman has built his side on a bedrock of defensive solidity, with Williams - despite his questionable defending against England - marshaling the backline impressively. 

Chester and Davies are sturdy flankers to the Wales captain at the back, while Gunter and Taylor help force opponents inside, thus decreasing the risk of crosses from open play troubling the Wales defence, while at the same time providing an effective attacking outlet from wide. With the midfielders also working tirelessly to rob the opposition of the ball - no player has won possession in the midfield third more times than Aaron Ramsey (16), a list Joe Allen (13) features third in, at Euro 2016 - Wales are an increasingly difficult side to break down and boast that touch of quality in the final third to aid the team. 

Wales’ slogan at Euro 2016 is ‘Together, Stronger’ and it couldn’t be more applicable to this current crop. Bale is evidently the star man, but the Dragons are anything but a one-man team in France.

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